Barn cleaner



April 27, 1954 J. GERHARTZ 2,676,696

BARN CLEANER Filed July 27, 1949 ||||||||||||V|lfllmmlll Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in barn cleaners and more particularly to a barn cleaning conveyor and night construction.

In barn cleaning equipment as heretofore developed, an endless conveyor chain having nights welded or otherwise rigidly xed to one side thereof is positioned in the barn gutter and is operated to move litter and manure along said gutter to a discharge point. With this type of conveyor, whenever any material in the gutter is contacted by a particular night and not moved thereby, said night is slid up and over said material to thereby twist the conveyor chain in the vicinity of said flight. Twisting of the conveyor chain causes the nights adjacent the nrst mentioned flight to be also raised off of the bottom of the gutter. When the nights are so raised they do not perform a proper scraping or con rveying operation. Y

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a conveyor and night construction for barn cleaners wherein the operation of adjacent nights is not affected by the raising of one of said nights off of the bottom of the barn gutter, or by unevenness of the bottom of said gutter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor and night construction of the class described wherein the flights are lhingedly connected to the conveyer in a manner to permit swinging movement in a downward direction from their normal operating positions relative to the conveyor and in a manner to prevent relative swinging movement upwardly therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor and night construction of the'class described wherein the conveyor nights are normally urged by gravity into contact with the gutter bottom, and wherein movement of said nights upwardly from their normal positions causes twisting of said conveyor chain, said upward movement of the nights being resisted by the tendency of the chain to resist twisting motion. s A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor and night construction of the class described wherein the nights areV pivoted tolugs on the under side of the conveyor chain and wherein said nights project laterally outwardly from said point of connection, thereby leaving the opposite sides of said chain unobstructed whereby it may be engaged by sprockets at either of said sides. y y f A further object of the invention is to provide .a conveyor and night construction which .is

strong and durable.; whicnperforms an. sentaient cleaning and conveying operation, which is relatively simple and easy to manufacture, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved barn cleaner conveyor and night construction, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein is shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, and wherein the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a barn cleaner of one type to which the invention is applicable;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the improved conveyor and night in operation in a barn gutter, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved conveyor and one night;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing the numeral It indicates a barn gutter which may be arranged in substantially a rectangular form, as shown, and which may have sprocket wheels II in three corners thereof. At the fourth corner an upwardly inclined pair of chutes or gutters I2 and I3 which form extensions of the gutter I0 and extend exteriorly of the barn. At the upper outer ends of the chutes l2 and I3, a sprocket Wheel I4 is rotatably mounted and may be driven from any suitable source, such as an electric motor (not shown). A relatively large sprocket I5 may be rotatably mounted at the juncture of the lower end of the chute I2 and the gutter I0 as shown.

Extending within the gutter I0 and chutes I2 and I3 is an endless conveyor chain I6 which extends around the sprockets II, I4 and I5 in the manner shown. The chain I6 has pivotally connected thereto, in a manner to be later described, a plurality of spaced'nights I1 which extend transversely of the gutter It and which normally scrape the bottom thereof. When the driven sprocket I4 is rotated, the chain IS is moved thereby in the direction indicated, and the nights Il are moved alongthe gutter I Ii townormally carry therewith any litter or other material which theyfmay contact. As the nights I 'I reach of pairs of nat bars I9 held together by pins 2li,L

nxed thereto. The chain normally travels in the gutter IG adjacent one sidewall thereof wit-hthe pins 2G extending in a vertical plane and with the nat bars It extending in a horizontal plane.

Fixed, as by welding, to the underside of a predetermined number of the lower nat` bars Ie, and projecting downwardly therefrom are spaced parallel lugs 2 lwhich extend transversely of the bars I9. The lower ends of the lugs 2l are apertured to receive pins 22 which are suitablyretained therein. The pins extend longitudinally of thebars I9 and parallel thereto.

A plurality of channel members 23, having a length substantially equal to the width ofI the gutter I0, are apertured adjacent one end and are pivotally connected toV the pins 22 to form conveyor flights. It' will' be noted from Fig. i that the upper surface of the inner end of each of the channel members 23 is in engagement with the under surface of the bar it to which it is connected. It will also be noted that the upper surface of the night extending inwardly beyond the pin 22 is rounded off as at 2a. It is apparent, therefore, that the flights can pivot downwardly about the pin 22 in a clockwise direction. (as viewed in Fig. Ll`)laut'cannot pivot upwardly from their normal position as shown in Fig. 4 without tipping or twisting the chain I6 therewith.

In operation they channel members 23 scrape the bottornwof the gutter Iii and are held thereagainst by their own weight. If', however, a flight comes in contact with a quantity of materiall in .2

the gutter which eifectively'resists displacement, the night will tend to` ride up over said material as shown in Fig. 2; In moving upwardlyhow ever, the night causes the chain le to be'twisted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed'in Figs. 2 and 4. This twisting ofthe chain does not, however, affect the nights which are adjacent the one which 'hasswung upwardly, becausesaid nights are pivotally connected in the `novel-manner previously described; and continue to be urged by gravity into engagement with the bottorn of the gutter, as shown in Fig. 2;

The channel members 23, while being normally urgedinto engagement with the bottom of the gutter I6 by their own weight', nevertheless require the exertion of a force considerably greater than their own weight in order toyb'e swung upwardly. ThisA is due to the fact that the nights cannot be swung upwardly from `their normal positions without causing twistingofjthe chain It. The tendency of the chain iii. to resist twisting, plus the for-ce of gravity actingjonthe pivoted'nights, tends to prevent upward move: ment of any of said nightsand'provides an enicient scraping action.

Referring to Fig. l; it will benotedthatv the outer end 25 of the-chuteIS is out off abruptly at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axisl of said chute, whereas the outer-end `2dr-of the chute I 2V is`V cut: at an acute:A angle--withrespect to the longitudinal axis of said chute so that there is a clear space therebeyond. As the nights I1 reach the upp-er outer end 25 of the chute I3 and begin to move around the sprocket I4 with the chain l, the nights are no longer supported by the chute I3 and therefore swing suddenly downwardly about the pivot pins 22 to assume a substantially vertical position. As the nights I'I swing downwardly in the manner described, any litter which hadaccumulated on said nights drops on due to the downward swinging action and to the force of gravity. Fig. l diagrammatically shows three of the nights I'i in thedownwardly swung position adjacent the sprocket I4.

As the vertically hanging nights I'I adjacent thesprocket M move toward the chute I2, they engage the angled outer end surface 2t of the chute i2. The outer end surface 26 engages the under side of the vertically hanging nights Il, and as said nights move toward the chute I2, the edg-e 26 causes said nights to be raised from a vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, pivotaliy moving said nights about the pins 22. The nights Il' which have been freed 'of any accumulation of litter by the above described downward swinging movement, then move down along the chute i2 along with the chain I5, and re-enter the gutterv Ii] for anew conveying and cleaning cycle.

It is apparent, therefore, that the improved conveyor and night construction not only provides efficient cleaning of the gutter I5) and conveying of the litter out through the chute i3, but it also provides for the automatic cleaning of the improved nights upon reachingl the discharge point. No night cleaning means, other than that which isinherent in the improved night structure, is necessary in a barn' cleaner embodying the improved conveyor and night construction.- v The fact that the lugs 2| project from the under side of the bars I9 makes possible the engagement of thechain IS-from either side; For example, the sprocket I5 can engage one side of the chain Inland the sprockets II and iti can engage the opposite side thereof.

Thef'improved construction provides a cleaning efnciency which is not possible with conventional conveyors having rigid nights. Because of the hinged connection, the channel members 23 are maintained in scraping contactwith the bottom of the gutter I0, even though saidgutter bottom is-uneven. y

Various changes" andv modincations may be madev without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of', such changes are contemplatedv as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claimis:

1. Ina-conveyor for-'operation in a barn gutter, af chain link having an'outer side and having a lower surface; and a conveyor night pivotally connected to the lowersurface of said link and extending transversely outwardly therefrom normally in' a plane substantially parallel' to said lower surface, a portion ofsaid night adjacent said pivotal .connection being'normally positioned in abutment with said link to/ thereby prevent pivotalmovement of said nightupwardlyfrom its normal'position relative to said link.

2. In a conveyor for operation ina barn gutter, a'chain link havingfan outerside and having a lowersurface; andaVY conveyor night-pivotally '"connected--Ito-i the lowerl surface 'of'. saidlinkand normally extending transversely outwardly therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to said lower surface, a portion of said night outwardly of its axis of pivotal movement being normally in abutment with the lower surface of said link to limit upward movement of said night relative to said links.

3. In a conveyor for operation in a barn gutter, a chain link having an outer side and having a lower surface; and a conveyor night pivotally connected to the lower surface of said link and extending transversely outwardly therefrom below the plane of said lower surface, a portion of said night which is outwardly of its axis of pivotal movement being normally in abutment with the lower surface of said link to limit upward movement of said night relative to said link.

4. In a conveyor for operation in a barn gutter, a chain link having an outer side and having a lower surface; a longitudinally extending pivot pin connected to and spaced below said lower surface; and a conveyor night pivotally connected at one end to said pivot pin, said night normally extending transversely outwardly from said pin in a plane substantially parallel to said lower surface, a portion of said night which is outwardly of and adjacent said pin being normally in abutment with the lower surface of said link to limit upward movement of said night relative to said link.

5. In a conveyor for operation in a barn gutter, a chain link having an outer side and having a lower surface; a longitudinally extending pivot pin connected to and spaced below said lower surface; and a channel shaped conveyor night pivotally connected at one end to said pivot pin, said night normally extending transversely outwardly from said pin in a plane substantially parallel to said lower surface, said night having its open side facing downwardly and normally having a portion of its upper surface which is outwardly and adjacent said pin in abutment with the lower surface of said link to limit upward movement of said night relative to said link.

6. In a conveyor for operation in a barn gutter, a chain link having an outer side and having a lower surface; a pair of spaced lugs projecting downwardly from said lower surface; a longitudinally extending pivot pin spaced below said lower surface and carried by said lugs; and a channel shaped conveyor night pivotally connected at one end to said pivot pin, said night normally extending transversely outwardly from said pin in a plane substantially parallel to said lower surface, said night having its open side facing downwardly and having a portion of its upper surface which is outwardly of and adjacent said pin normally in abutment with the lower surface of said link to limit upward movement of said night relative to said link.

7. In a conveyor for operation in a barn gutter, a chain link having an outer side and having a lower surface; a 4pair of spaced lugs projecting downwardly from said lower surface; a longitudinally extending pivot pin spaced below said lower surface and carried by said lugs; and a channel shaped conveyor night pivotally connected at one end to said pivot pin, said night normally extending transversely outwardly from said pin below the plane of said lower surface, said night having its open side facing downwardly and having a portion of its upper surface which is outwardly of and adjacent said pin normally in abutment with the lower surface of said link to limit upward movement of said night relative to said link.

8, In a conveyor for operation in a barn gutter, a chain link having an outer side and having a lower surface; a pair of spaced lugs projecting downwardly from said lower surface; a longitudinally extending pivot pin spaced below and parallel with said lower surface and carried by said lugs; and a channel shaped conveyor night pivotally connected at one end to said pivot pin between said lugs, said night normally extending transversely outwardly from said pin below the plane of said lower surface, said night having its open side facing downwardly and having a portion of its upper surface which is outwardly of and adjacent said pin normally in abutment with the lower surface of said link to limit upward movement of said night relative to said link.

9. In a conveyor for operation in a barn gutter, a chain link having an outer side and having a lower surface; a pair of spaced lugs projecting downwardly from said lower surface; a longitudinally extending pivot pin spaced below said lower surface and carried by said lugs; and a channel shaped conveyor night pivotally connected at one end to said pivot pin, said night normally extending transversely outwardly from said pin in a plane substantially parallel to said lower surface, said night having its open side facing downwardly and having a portion of its upper surface which is outwardly of and adjacent said pin normally in abutment with the lower surface of said link to limit upward movement of said night relative to said link, said night also having a cut away upper surface portion adjacent said pin to permit downward movement of said night relative to said link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,545 Coleman Apr, 4, 1911 1,560,680 Fernandes Nov. 10, 1925 1,616,076 Cotton Feb, 1, 1927 1,671,950 Necheff May 29, 1928 1,686,567 Levin Oct. 9, 1928 1,800,814 Boldt Apr, 14, 1931 2,381,519 Russell Aug. 7, 1945 2,554,589 Patz et al May 29, 1951 2,646,158 Vodoz July 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 101,118 Sweden Mar. 18, 1941 

